07/08/2026
Our Chester boy is lame 😞. What is lame
You ask? Lame is when a horse is hurt and is limping. Many things can cause lameness in Chester’s case he has an abscess in his hoof. It can take up 2-3 weeks for it to come out and can be very painful because it’s so much pressure inside the hoof. Luckily Chester’s popped today and just needs to take it easy and needs extra love ❤️ What do you do if your horse is lame? If there is obvious injury call your vet immediately and get instructions from them because if the horse needs stitches there is a short window to get the stitches placed or your vet may need to do x rays of Your horses leg if they broke or pulled something. I am Not a veterinarian or farrier myself but this is just some things I’ve learned over the years of having horses that I’ve learned to do And check for. If there is no obvious injury and your horse is limping check the underside of the hoof and see if there is a rock or stick that could be stuck and causing pain. If that’s not the case it’s best to consult with your farrier to get their professional opinion if the lameness is hoof related or not, if it’s hoof related your farrier is a great person to get directions from because they see hoof related issues all the time. They may even have you call your vet and get x rays of the hoof to help diagnose the issue. Our farrier was contacted and based off the pictures and videos I sent him when Chester first started limping he suspected an abscess due to the increase of rain we have had following the drought. So with an abscess their limping will go from minimal limping to very ouchy where they are what we call “toe touching” as seen in these pictures” where they put barely any weight on it. If the limping gets worse that is also a big indication that it is a abscess because as the horse walks the infection keeps trying to push out of the hoof until it pops but it can take 2-3 weeks for it to come out you can give the horse support by soaking the hoof with epson salt to help draw it out, use drawing save, there are so many tricks out there but consult with your farrier for the best one for your horse and in Chester’s case his leg started to swell up so we used a poultice clay and a wrap to help the body distribute the inflammation which is the body’s natural response. But if you’re not sure what to do call your vet or farrier because they are professionals and can help your horse the best way possible don’t ask Dr google!
